Tottori
Japan has sand dunes? Tottori’s 16-kilometre dune field beside the Sea of Japan is a genuine desert landscape — camel rides, paragliding and all — in the middle of the country.
日本唯一の砂丘・鳥取砂丘、大山の雄姿、松葉ガニ——日本で最も人口の少ない県・鳥取は、圧倒的なスケールの自然に満ちています。
Tottori is Japan’s least populated prefecture, yet its 180,000-year-old sand dunes — stretching 16km along the Sea of Japan coast, up to 2km wide and 90 metres tall — create a landscape utterly unlike anywhere else in Japan. Paragliders launch from the highest dune, camels carry riders across the sand, and the adjacent Sand Museum displays colossal sculptures carved entirely from sand each year. Sacred Mt. Daisen, Chugoku’s highest peak, watches over the prefecture from the west.
日本唯一の本格的な砂丘・鳥取砂丘は幅2km・高さ90mのスケール。パラグライダー・ラクダ乗り体験や砂の美術館の巨大砂像も必見。冬の松葉ガニと大山の絶景が加わり、鳥取は意外性と感動に満ちた県です。
Recommended Omiyage
おすすめおみやげ 5選
Matsuba Crab
Tottori’s branded snow crab — the finest male zuwaigani caught in the Japan Sea
日本海で水揚げされる最高級ズワイガニ。黄色いタグ付きの松葉ガニは別格の旨み。
Nijisseiki Pear Jelly
Fragrant jelly from Tottori’s famous Nijisseiki pear — crisp, sweet and Japan-exclusive
日本一の生産量を誇る鳥取の二十世紀梨を使ったみずみずしいゼリー。
Sand Dune Cookie
Butter cookies dusted with cocoa ‘sand’ to resemble the famous dunes — whimsical and delicious
砂丘をモチーフにした砂のようなテクスチャーのバタークッキー。
Tottori Folk Toy
White rabbit folk toy inspired by the Kojiki myth of the White Rabbit of Inaba — lucky charm
因幡の白うさぎ神話をモチーフにした郷土玩具。縁結びの守り神として人気。
Daisen Sake
Clean, mineral sake brewed with snowmelt from sacred Mt. Daisen
大山の雪解け水で醸す、やわらかくミネラル豊富な純米酒。
Must-Visit Spots
おすすめスポット 5選
Tottori Sand Dunes
Japan’s largest sand dunes — 16km long, 90m high — with camels, paragliding and sandboarding
日本唯一の大規模砂丘。ラクダ乗り・パラグライダー・サンドボードが楽しめる。
Sand Museum
Annual exhibition of colossal sand sculptures by international artists — a unique world-class venue
世界各国の砂像彫刻家が競い合う、世界唯一の砂でできた芸術品の美術館。
Mt. Daisen
Chugoku’s highest peak (1,729m) — sacred volcano with ancient shrine and beech forests
中国地方最高峰。大山寺・大神山神社奥宮への登山とブナ林の紅葉が絶景。
Izumo Taisha (Shimane, nearby)
Japan’s oldest and most sacred shrine for love and marriage — easily combined with Tottori
縁結びの神様・出雲大社は鳥取県から車で1.5時間。セットで訪問がおすすめ。
Misasa Onsen
Naturally radioactive radon spring — one of the world’s highest radon concentrations
世界有数のラドン含有量を誇る天然温泉。体の芯から温まる。
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ride a camel at Tottori Sand Dunes?
Yes — camel rides at the dunes cost ¥1,500 for a short circuit. Sandboard rentals (¥1,000) and paragliding tandem flights (¥8,000–10,000) are also available from operators at the dune entrance.
砂丘でのラクダ乗りは1,500円。サンドボードレンタル（1,000円）やパラグライダータンデム（8,000〜10,000円）も体験できます。
What is the Nijisseiki pear?
The Nijisseiki (20th Century) pear is a Japanese cultivar developed in Chiba in 1888, now almost entirely grown in Tottori. It’s crisp, sweet and very juicy with thin skin — in season August–October.
二十世紀梨は1888年に千葉で発見された品種で、現在は鳥取が全国一の産地。薄皮でシャキシャキ食感が特徴。8〜10月が旬。
Is there a direct train to Tottori from Osaka?
Yes — the Super Hakuto limited express from Osaka (Kinosaki direction) reaches Tottori in about 2.5 hours. The JR Chugoku Pass covers unlimited travel in the Chugoku region for 3 or 5 days.
大阪から特急スーパーはくとで約2.5時間。JR西日本の「山陰・岡山エリアパス」が便利。
Travel Tip
Visit the Sand Dunes at sunrise (before 7 am) when the shadows create dramatic ripple patterns and crowds are minimal. The dune-top view of the Sea of Japan at dawn is one of Japan’s most striking landscapes.
